Reducing noise

AUDIOLOGIST Suzanne Porter says difficulty hearing in a group or noisy environment is a significant problem for many people with a hearing loss.

Mrs Porter said the latest hearing aid devices had technology that helped turn up the volume for soft speech and directly assisted in reducing the noise in a person’s environment.

“One of the primary methods to reduce noise is through the use of directional microphones,” she said. “As a pair the aids can create a beam that focuses on sound in front, while reducing noise from behind the wearer. This automatically reduces a large amount of noise in the environment, as the hearing aids won’t amplify sound from the back of the wearer.”

Mrs Porter said high level noise reduction features were available for wearers of devices that sat inside the ear as well as for those with behind-the-ear devices.

A1 Discreet Hearing Aids has two managing hearing specialists; they’re accredited by the Office of Hearing Services to see pensioners and veterans at no charge through the Hearing Services Program.

“All devices are professionally fit to match your audiogram and will operate automatically from this point on,” she said.

All clients get a free hearing assessment and hearing aid recommendation. Clinics are at Q Super Centre Mermaid Waters, Hope Island and Coolangatta.